Sunday, January 26, 2014

Lured by the sound of a lone French horn I embarked on a hay
ride to Castle Frankenstein located in deepest, darkest Kwinana for a little
transference, a lot of mania and some deep love. Yes, Young Frankenstein the
Musical was on the loose at the Koorliny Arts Centre and what a rampage it is.

I was greeted by the flickering of lightning, the crack of
thunder and a suitably ominous stage. It’s 1933 Transylvania and the villagers
are celebrating the death of the infamous Doctor Frankenstein (The Happiest Town). But their happiness
is disturbed when it’s announced that a Frankenstein yet lives in New York City
of all places. Here we find the good doctor’s grandson Frederick Frankenstein
or as he insists, “Fronkensteen”. A scientist, he is fascinated by the brain (The Brain) but ashamed of the family
name.

On hearing the news of his grandfather’s death he
reluctantly leaves New York and the hands-off charms of his fiancée, Elizabeth (Please Don’t Touch Me) and heads to the
family castle where he meets the hunchback Igor (pronounced eye-gore), his lab assistant Inga and
the wonderfully strange Frau Blucher (obligatory neigh). Entreated to continue
the family business by the ghost of his grandfather (Join the Family Business) young Frederick begins his descent into
mad scientist territory and a Monster is duly created with unexpected and hilarious
results.

Based on the Mel Brooks’ movie of the same name, it exhibits
the typical Brooks sense of humour as it parodies the horror genre. The gags
can be a little hit and miss but I generally found this very funny. It is also
performed and directed with great verve and there are many wonderful set
pieces.

But first, the performances.

Jesse Angus is superb as Frederick Frankenstein, a character
that is cocky, arrogant, even smarmy when we first meet him in New York but
becomes the brilliant mad scientist as he recreates and then exceeds his
grandfather’s greatest triumph. Angus attacks the role with impressive energy
and the appropriate level of mania as “Fronkensteen” indeed embraces the family
business. He has excellent chemistry with Igor played with relish by Laurence
Williams; and Brooks’ archetypal Scandinavian blonde, Inga, played by a
sparkling Sarah Elizabeth Hubber. Williams’ comic sidekick, hump and all, adds
plenty of sly humour while Hubber gets to be both ditzy and sexy to great
effect.

Natalie Burbage’s Frau Blucher (neigh) is suitably
over-exaggerated as the mysterious housekeeper; Jon Lambert an imposing Monster
whose howls of frustration and despair become something far more articulate in
the latter stages; and Allen Blachford’s Dr. Frankenstein looms over
proceedings with a couple of pivotal scenes.

The unexpected visit to Transylvania by Georgia McGivern’s
Elizabeth (Surprise) in the second
act is the catalyst for all sorts of shenanigans, one of which leads to her
revelatory number Deep Love. Daniel
Burton’s Inspector Kemp rallies the villagers to storm the castle but it’s his
blind Hermit that provides one of the highlights as he unknowingly
entertains the Monster (Please Send Me
Someone).

Other highlights:

The beautifully staged Roll
in the Hay as Frederick and Inga make their way to the castle in the back
of a hay wagon… with yodelling;

Victor Frankenstein (and ancestors) exhorting his grandson
to continue his work in Join the Family
Business;

Natalie Burbage’s crazy, frantic, bodice ripping He Vas My Boyfriend;

The Monster becoming animated in Life, Life;

And the show-stopping numbers Transylvania Mania that closes out the first act, and, of course,
the delightful Puttin’ on the Ritz
where Frederick shows off his Monster in all his tap stomping, coat and tails
glory.

The ensemble gives great support as variously villagers,
students, ancestors and the band were very good. The transition between scenes
was handled effectively with a screen also used to indicate the setting
(laboratory etc) and project images such as the late Doctor Frankenstein.

This is crazy and high camp at times but it works due to a
talented cast committed to the absurdity of it all. I certainly found myself
laughing along merrily and tapping my feet to several of the numbers.

Directed by Brad Tudor, Musical Directors Kate McIntosh
& Taui Pinker, with Choreography by Hillary Readings, Young Frankenstein
has three more shows at the Koorliny Arts Centre on Friday 31st January at 8pm and 1st February at 2pm and 8pm.

Richard, Thank you so much for your wonderful review. The cast were so impressed and pleased to here you enjoyed the show so much. You were an absolute pleasure to perform to. Thank you again for coming and spreading the word!- Sarah Hubber (INGA)